2019

2019-20 Distinguished Seminar Series

Anonymous — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 21:02:05 +0000

2019-20 Distinguished Seminar Series Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 08/22/2019 - 15:02

The 2019-20 Distinguished Seminar Series enables an opportunity for students and faculty among others to learn from six impressive mechanical engineering thought-leaders. This year, we welcome Harsha Chelliah, Bruce Dunn, Patricia Falcone, Krishna Garikipati, Laura Schaefer, and Jay Turner from institutions across the nation. They will discuss topics ranging across fields.

This series begins Friday, September 6th and runs through Friday, November 15th. All seminars are held from 9 to 9:50 AM in ECCR 265 with refreshments provided. Learn more about our fantastic lineup of speakers below!

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Catching rainwater in Rwanda, student spends summers with Engineers Without Borders

Anonymous — Tue, 07 May 2019 22:19:11 +0000

Catching rainwater in Rwanda, student spends summers with Engineers Without Borders Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 05/07/2019 - 16:19

Oksana Schuppan

Meet Curtis Gile, Department of Mechanical Engineering Outstanding Graduate for International Engagement

Curtis Gile and Engineers Without Borders teammates stand at the base of a rainwater catchment system that they designed and built in Rwanda.

Curtis Gile and teammate, Nicola van den Heever spend time with locals in Rwanda.

“What’s amazing about engineering is you can literally create something that changes lives,” said mechanical engineering graduate Curtis Gile.

Though Gile grew up in Denver, not far from CU Boulder, his involvement with Engineers Without Borders led him to travel nearly 8,500 miles to Rwanda where he developed a system for collecting clean water. It also earned him mechanical engineering’s Outstanding Graduate for International Engagement award.

“There’s no better way to integrate with a community than by working alongside them,” Gile said. “When I returned to Rwanda for a second time, the friends I had made during my previous visit ran to see me.”

Engineers Without Borders, which started at CU Boulder 17 years ago, works alongside developing communities around the world, completing engineering projects that empower communities to meet their basic human needs and equip leaders to solve the world’s most pressing challenges.

Along with his teammate, Nicola van den Heever and mentor, Travis Greiman, Gile built rainwater catchment systems, designed to collect water from the roofs of large sheds. Rainwater is relatively clean, but the team treated it with bleach and developed methods for keeping out debris.

Gile said it has been amazing to see the locals change their perceptions around drinking water. Because of disease, they were fearful, but when Gile returned for a second time, he saw people had created their own versions of what Engineers Without Borders had built.

“The best thing that can happen is that the locals replicate what we’ve designed,” said Gile. “This means we’ve succeeded in making it easy to copy.”

An important focus for Gile has been ensuring that designs are sustainable. Recently, he has focused on local sourcing of materials, using wood instead of steel so the Rwandans could repair the catchment systems at lower costs without help from Engineers Without Borders.

“We listened closely to the locals, because they are the ones who will be living with our designs,” Gile said. “When locals disagreed with our recommendations, my mentor reminded me that people have known how to build things for hundreds years; only recently have we known why they work.”

Gile said he learned you will never have all the information you need, there’s no such thing as double-checking too many times and that it’s important that everyone is made to feel part of the same goal.

Beyond his degree in mechanical engineering, Gile has also been inspired by his time in Rwanda to pursue a second degree in economics.

“After seeing how a country can go from one of the worst genocides in the world to being a clean, safe place, I wanted to learn more about how countries develop,” Gile said. “This way, maybe one day I can affect even greater change.”

In support of his economics degree, Gile interned in Washington, D.C., with Sen. Michael Bennett where he determined optimal ways to finance paid family leave.

Gile will graduate in May 2019 before moving to Chicago where he will work for Techedge, an international consulting firm.

Gile said his experience working internationally while at CU will only prepare him for what lies ahead.

“The world is only going to get smaller,” Gile said.

Curtis Gile was selected as the Spring 2019 Department of Mechanical Engineering Outstanding Graduate for International Engagement. He spent two summers developing rainwater catchment systems in Rwanda with Engineers Without Borders. In May 2019, he will graduate with degrees in mechanical engineering and economics.

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Hard work paves the way in school, cycling and service

Anonymous — Tue, 07 May 2019 21:17:58 +0000

Hard work paves the way in school, cycling and service Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 05/07/2019 - 15:17

Oksana Schuppan

Meet Brent Frieden, College of Engineering and Applied Science Outstanding Graduate for Academic Achievement

Brent Frieden, the College of Engineering and Applied Science Outstanding Graduate for Academic Achievement

Brent Frieden competes on the CU Boulder mountain biking team in Aspen, Colorado.

Brent Frieden, born and raised in Colorado Springs is not only graduating with the highest grade point average in the college, but has been a highly involved member of the CU Boulder community and beyond. He is receiving the college's Outstanding Graduate for Academic Achievement award.

During the pursuit of his BS in mechanical engineering at CU Boulder, he interned with NIST, competed on the cycling team in downhill and road racing, was involved in student ministry, was a member of Engineering Honors Program and spent a semester volunteering in Nicaragua where he worked in construction, food distribution and helped run a camp for kids.

“Success is hard to define as one thing,” said Frieden. “Sometimes, it takes doing the little things well to achieve anything on a grander scale.”

He said he is most proud of the times he has worked the hardest like studying long hours for an applied math course or training for a challenging ride or climb and doing well.

Academic achievement was never the end goal, said Frieden. He said he was thankful to his parents who were satisfied so long as he was putting forth his best effort. In fact, during his freshman year at CU Boulder, Frieden said he thought he was going to fail.

“I got to CU Boulder, realized how smart everyone was and decided I needed to kick it into gear if I was going to make it,” Frieden said. “I had to work incredibly hard just to keep up with my classmates.”

As time passed, Frieden also developed exceptional time management skills and discovered the importance of attending office hours.

Much of his success Frieden attributes to his professors.

“I was learning difficult subject matter, but my professors knew the material so well and could teach it in ways that made sense,” Frieden said.

Two professors who impacted him were Assistant Professor Rong Long, who Frieden describes as a very kind person who understands everything he teaches and Assistant Professor Nina Vance, who he worked with during the development of his capstone design project, a toy for children who are hospitalized.

Frieden’s favorite courses were Physics 3 with Professor Charles Rogers who made every class entertaining, his Fluid Mechanics course with the well-prepared Senior Instructor Jeff Knutsen and Norse Mythology with Instructor Jackson Crawford, a course he said was like story time, a healthy break from his engineering coursework.

Brent Frieden works on a construction project in Nicaragua. Frieden spent a semester volunteering in Nicaragua.

Frieden said he was also thankful to be surrounded by bright students. He said his peers pushed him forward and taught him many things as they asked questions.

“It’s cool to be part of a collectively excellent program,” Frieden said.

Experiences that stretched him the most included his volunteering with a nonprofit organization in Nicaragua and his involvement as a camp counselor for high school students. He said the three months he spent in Nicaragua were a deeply humbling experience that gave him a bigger picture of the world and a glimpse into being a minority. He said his involvement as a camp counselor taught him how to use his introverted personality to uniquely lead and invest in people.

Within engineering, Frieden is most interested in product design because he said he enjoys working with his hands and coming up with new ideas. His future plans are not yet determined, but he said he would like to gain experience in industry before attending graduate school.

No matter what comes next, one thing is for sure: Frieden enjoys challenging himself.

“I’m lucky that there is always something new to learn, especially in engineering,” he said.

Brent Frieden was selected as the Spring 2019 College of Engineering and Applied Science Outstanding Graduate for Academic Achievement. Frieden holds the highest GPA in the college, competed on the CU Boulder cycling team and volunteered in Nicaragua.

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Service, a life outside the comfort zone

Anonymous — Tue, 07 May 2019 21:15:51 +0000

Service, a life outside the comfort zone Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 05/07/2019 - 15:15

Oksana Schuppan

Meet Spencer Miller, Department of Mechanical Engineering Outstanding Graduate for Service

Spencer Miller flies his grandfather's plane. Miller said his grandfather taught him to love all things mechanical.

“Engineering is a way of contributing to something greater than yourself,” said Spencer Miller, mechanical engineering Outstanding Graduate for Service. Miller was nominated by faculty members to receive this award based on his devotion to service.

During his time at CU Boulder, Miller built community as American Society of Mechanical Engineers president, tutored underrepresented students at Boulder High School, advocated for diversity as part of The BOLD Center, rode bikes for Boulder Food Rescue to help people reduce waste and have food to eat and volunteered for Community Food Share and Better Boulder Day of Service.

Spencer Miller tables in the College of Engineering and Applied Science lobby with American Society of Mechanical Engineers officers.

Beyond these things, Miller said some of his most impactful service experiences grew out of smaller moments, like the time he decided to “hang out” with a man who was homeless.

Miller was born in Baltimore, Maryland, grew up in northern Virginia and went to high school in Colorado. When it came time for him to consider college, he clung to his interest in cars.

“My grandpa has been a huge role model to me,” Miller said. “Not only did he share his love for cars, but he was also a special education teacher who taught me how to be kind to others.”

Miller’s mother was also a special education teacher who he said enlightened him to the value of service.

Spencer Miller and his older sister, Madison at Stonehenge. Miller says Madison was the first to teach him to step outside of his comfort zone.

When he arrived at CU Boulder, Miller wanted to continue serving his peers like he had in high school on student council. He joined the CU Boulder chapter of American Society of Mechanical Engineers where he held many roles including president. There, he and other officers reached out to students looking for a place to connect and grow. Through fun events, resources and opportunities to network, they brought together students, faculty, staff and alumni of all different backgrounds.

“What I enjoyed most about ASME were the close friends and genuine connections,” Miller said. “The ASME vision is very much a shared vision.”

Miller also tutored students in math and science through the Advancement Via Individual Determination program at Boulder High School, an additional class for underrepresented students that helps them foster good study habits.

“We encourage the kids and show them they are capable,” Miller said.

Miller said his advice to current students is to put yourself out there, meet strangers and to be willing to ask questions. One way he did this, in addition to studying abroad in Australia and fostering relationships with the department, was pursuing two independent studies. His first independent study allowed him to completely rebuild a VW engine, and his second allowed him to produce a documentary with his brother.

“Our first feature-length film explores the idea that perhaps the only life worth living is the one you live outside of your comfort zone,” Miller said. “Exposing the world’s problems through film and storytelling creates the potential to make an even bigger impact.”

Miller has many dreams for the future including working for a small company, going into business with his brother and becoming a teacher. Regardless of where he lands, Miller says he looks forward to the ways he’ll continue contributing to future generations.

Spencer Miller was selected as the Spring 2019 Department of Mechanical Engineering Outstanding Graduate for Service. He was involved in ASME and The BOLD Center, tutored underrepresented high school students, volunteered with Boulder Food Rescue and created a film about living outside your comfort zone.

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Passion for renewable energy leads to battery research

Anonymous — Tue, 07 May 2019 21:08:38 +0000

Passion for renewable energy leads to battery research Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 05/07/2019 - 15:08

Oksana Schuppan

Meet Simon Hafner, College of Engineering and Applied Science Outstanding Graduate for Research

Simon Hafner conducts research in the Electrochemical Energy Laboratory.

During his time at CU Boulder, mechanical engineering BS/MS student and Boettcher Scholar Simon Hafner said his job as a researcher was to take apart complex systems, breaking them into easy-to-analyze problems.

This year, he was selected as Outstanding Graduate for Research in the College of Engineering and Applied Science based on his five years of battery research as an undergraduate and graduate student. Already, he has published seven papers and is listed on three patents.

Participation in the Energy Club in 2014 introduced him to Professor Se-Hee Lee. Given his interest in Lee’s research, he soon became involved as an undergraduate researcher for the Electrochemical Energy Laboratory. When he first began, he learned everything from how to build simple and complex battery cells to habits like note-taking, cleanliness, assembly and tear-down.

“From the start, I was attracted to research opportunities in renewable energy,” Hafner said. “I soon learned that much of renewable energy boils down to materials science.”

The goal of Hafner’s research was to increase the energy density and lifetime of batteries, so they could be replaced less often for a lower price. He also rebuilt lithium ion batteries into solid-state batteries to increase safety, stability and shelf life.

“The top three places batteries are used include mobile phones, transportation and grid storage,” Hafner said. “Because they’re used so broadly, it’s important we make them affordable, safe and long-lasting.”

To increase energy density, Hafner researched three potential solutions: pseudocapacitors, a material halfway between a battery, which stores energy in a chemical form, and a capacitor, which stores energy in an electric field; silicon anode batteries which can hold 10 times as much lithium as conventional batteries; surface coatings which make batteries more stable.

Hafner said he is thankful to his team, especially in challenging moments. “Watching all of these very great researchers succeed but also overcome failures has helped me to keep going,” Hafner said.

Hafner said he has also learned many things from Lee including how putting one’s work in context yields success, that it’s worth the extra care to get high-quality, repeatable results and to never be afraid of innovation.

“When I came to Professor Lee with new ideas, he only encouraged me,” Hafner said.

In addition to research at CU Boulder, Hafner interned at SiILion, NREL and CU Science Discovery. He also studied abroad in South Korea, completing Korean language courses and participating in a short battery experiment while there. Looking ahead, Hafner hopes to begin a career working in energy and technology.

Mechanical engineering BS/MS student and Boettcher Scholar Simon Hafner was selected as the Spring 2019 College of Engineering and Applied Science Outstanding Graduate for Research. The goal of his research was to increase the energy density and lifetime of batteries, so they can be replaced less often for a lower price.

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Engineering grads’ high-tech walker could keep seniors from falling

Anonymous — Mon, 06 May 2019 19:20:23 +0000

Engineering grads’ high-tech walker could keep seniors from falling Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 05/06/2019 - 13:20

Four ME undergraduates worked with senior residents to test an invention for walkers that could help prevent debilitating falls. The team, known as Stride Tech, received the first-place prize of $100,000 at the New Venture Challenge.

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Siemens Gamesa partners with CU students to develop drone-based monitoring system for wind turbines

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 21:55:34 +0000

Siemens Gamesa partners with CU students to develop drone-based monitoring system for wind turbines Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 04/22/2019 - 15:55

Oksana Schuppan

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy capstone design students at CU Boulder. Back row left to right: Aiden Zheng, Eric Rocilez, Chad Sloan, Ben Setterquest, Al Dayn, Austin Napier. Front row left to right: Richard Poulson, Alex Jaros, David Molitor

CU Boulder engineering students are finalizing an infrared imaging system that will allow a user to monitor subsurface features in wind turbine blades, an invention that could make wind turbine repair safer, faster and more cost-efficient.

Members of the capstone design team, sponsored by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, said their greatest accomplishment has been turning an idea into a useful product that is accepted by an experienced team of engineers in industry.

“This is real engineering,” said David Molitor, a mechanical engineering BS/MS student. “It’s physical, real and it works.”

On April 26, this team, along with roughly 145 others, will present their design at the 2019 Engineering Projects Expo.

Given the complexity of the Siemens Gamesa project, undergraduate and graduate students in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and computer science joined forces on one team. Al Dayn, Alexandra Jaros, David Molitor, Austin Napier, Richard Poulson, Eric Rocilez, Ben Setterquist, Chad Sloan and Aiden Zheng worked together to design a better way to monitor the condition of wind turbine blades.

“Wind turbine blades have an expected lifetime operation of 20 years or longer,” said Molitor. “Over time, a blade might be affected by frequent lightning strikes or heavy rainfall. The imaging system we developed allows us to check for subsurface features, such as structural cracks to ensure the blade remains in good condition throughout its operational life.”

Ben Setterquest, CAD Engineer for the Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Capstone Design team prepares to test their device along with his team members.

Current test methods for studying subsurface features require large amounts of manpower and take roughly four hours per blade. Rope access technicians rappel from the tops of wind turbine towers and survey the area with heat-sensitive cameras.

“It’s very time-consuming and expensive,” said Alexandra Jaros, a senior studying mechanical engineering. Jaros said these methods are especially costly when wind turbines are located offshore or when evaluating hundreds of wind turbines at a time.

With this challenge in mind, the team succeeded in creating a solution requiring only three minutes per scan and far less manpower.

To do so, the team mounted an infrared camera to a drone, allowing them to detect differences in temperature. Because subsurface features like cracks are filled with air, they cool at a slower pace, making them stand out in a different color when viewed through a heat-sensitive camera. This allows the team to identify features invisible to the naked eye.

Behind the scenes, students studying computer science like Richard Poulson have added metadata so the operator can tell which section of the blade is being shown.

“Using time stamps to organize information from the GPS unit, inertial measurement unit and magnetic sensors which track absolute position, tilt and orientation, we have been able to map the infrared images of the blade to the blade’s location in 3D space,” Poulson said.

This project allowed students to further their experience in systems engineering, providing them with opportunities to build skills in CAD, manufacturing, hardware debugging, electronics debugging, intersystem communication and integrated circuits. It also gave students the chance to use project management tools, practice communication and talk about functional requirements with a client.

To future capstone design students, the team said they recommend taking ownership of individual roles while also trusting the efforts of teammates.

“Trust can be hard at first,” said Molitor, “but it’s amazing how proud you can be of what you accomplish together.” 

Project Video

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JbXr8dLdRQ&feature=youtu.be]

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Veterans challenge CU Boulder capstone students to design for improved quality of life

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 21:47:26 +0000

Veterans challenge CU Boulder capstone students to design for improved quality of life Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 04/22/2019 - 15:47

Oksana Schuppan

CU Boulder mechanical engineering capstone teams working with nonprofit program Quality of Life Plus said they had two primary aims: making a tangible impact on a wounded veteran’s life and putting mechanical and manufacturing skills to the test.

Guided by QL+ Program Manager Court Allen, a retired Air Force officer, teams created a device enabling wheelchair users to carry luggage while traveling and a system that lifts a swimmer with a physical disability out of the water.

The QL+ mission is unique in that it enables service men and women to do the things they love, Allen said. QL+ refers to them as “challengers,” those wounded in the line of duty who come to QL+ with a problem students are then challenged to solve.

“Veterans Affairs helps veterans get prosthetics and wheelchairs, but they can’t focus on every little detail of a person’s life,” said Allen. “Something small and trivial to us could be very impactful to one of our challengers.”

Student teams across 13 universities, including two at CU Boulder, are paired with challengers. The QL+ model allows students to help veterans while also allowing the challenger to play an important role in allowing students to exercise engineering skills and gain experience working with a client.

“We like working with students, because they bring a unique and unbiased view to the problem,” said Allen. “I have been impressed by CU Boulder students’ depth of technical understanding and quality of learning at this point in their education.”

As QL+ continues to grow, the organization is recruiting veterans and first responders who have been injured or have a disabling medical condition.

Taking the hassle out of luggage transportation with a wheelchair

Quality of Life Plus mechanical engineering capstone design team and instructors. Back row from left to right: Dannie Glanville, Saud Alobaidan, Max Buechler, Yushi Liu, Morgan Brendefur, Fatema Alhalal. Front row from left to right: Shirley Chessman (director), Julie Steinbrenner (instructor), Daria Kotys-Schwartz (instructor).

Tyler Wilson, a U.S. Army veteran, was shot and lost the use of his legs, but that hasn’t stopped him from cycling, monoskiing and competing in Spartan races. He has adjusted well to using a wheelchair but came to QL+ requesting a way to independently transport his luggage when traveling.

CU Boulder mechanical engineering seniors Fatema Alhalal, Saud Alobaidan, Morgan Brendefur, Max Buechler, Dannie Glanville and Yushi Liu were happy to help, along with Project Director Shirley Chessman, mechanical engineering lab engineer at CU Boulder.

The device they designed attaches to the front frame of Wilson’s wheelchair, corralling checked luggage and supporting a carry-on bag weighing up to 50 pounds.

“Tyler emphasized that his wheelchair is an extension of himself,” said Glanville. “For this reason, we took extra care when designing.”

“We rounded off the device’s sharp edges,” said Alhalal. “We didn’t want Tyler’s 1-year-old son to bump into them and hurt himself.”

CU Boulder mechanical engineering capstone students designed a device to assist wheelchair users in carrying luggage. When folded, it fits in a backpack.

The device they made is fully collapsible, fits in a backpack, weighs 18 pounds and doesn’t interfere with the wheelchair’s center of gravity. To ensure it would work well in a variety of environments, the team tested it on concrete, tile, carpet, grass, in elevators, in bathrooms and up and down ramps. In total, they performed 160 tests with roughly 30 test subjects, performing nearly 370 total test trials. They said users found the device to be both quicker and easier than transporting luggage without it.

“One of the biggest things I’ve learned is awareness of the everyday tasks those with physical disabilities must complete,” said Brendefur. “As an able-bodied person, I was ignorant of the difficulties that exist.”

“When I had to transport the wheelchair across campus, I decided to give it a try,” said Alobaidan. “I wanted to feel some of the challenges a wheelchair user might feel.”

At the Engineering Projects Expo on April 26, the team said they are most looking forward to sharing Wilson’s story and how QL+ has allowed them to help.

Watch the Project Video

Lift system helps disabled veterans return to the water

Kelly Roseberry, director of the Travis Mills Foundation Retreat in Maine, wished her husband and other amputees were able to participate in activities in the water. Roseberry came to QL+ as a challenger because she didn’t like seeing people left out.

CU Boulder mechanical engineering seniors Sulaiman ALDuaij, Austin Carroll, Andrew Lapham, Shane Nicoson, Brianna Roe and Ruhan Yang were tasked with designing a disabled swimmer lift system unlike any other.

Quality of Life Plus mechanical engineering capstone students designed a system that attaches to a dock and is able to lift swimmers who are disabled from the water.

While most systems weigh close to 1,200 pounds, the system they designed weighs less than 200 pounds, enabling its use on a floating dock in a lake. The system also attaches without bolts, takes up a small footprint and functions with a simple hand crank. The team said their design is durable and should last 10 years assuming it is covered when not in use.

“Everything we could manufacture ourselves, we did,” said ALDuaij.

For this reason, the team said it was amazing seeing it fully assembled for the first time.

The team spent large amounts of time in the machine shop, learning to use mills, lathes, band saws and other equipment, but the team also learned patience, how to communicate better as a team and time management skills. They said they were grateful to their director, Tim Studebaker, for providing helpful guidance and remaining as excited about their engineering capstone project as they were.

Team member Andrew Lapham said one of his most memorable moments was getting to meet a quadriplegic who had previously been to the Travis Mills Foundation Retreat.

“It hit home when I was able to see who the end user was going to be,” he said.

Watch the Project Video

Mechanical engineering capstone teams working with QL+ had two primary aims: making an impact on a wounded veteran’s life and putting mechanical skills to the test. They designed a luggage carrier device for wheelchair users and a disabled swimmer lift system.

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